The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-09-20
AT HIGH NOON.

There was not a more daring and active
scout in I,azaine's army than Pierre
Danton.
When Pierre volunteered to slip into
QuinUuambo, to see what the Mexlcans
wercIdoing, 1t never occurred to him that
therc was the slightest danger.
Quinquambo was little mountain vii
= lage, with small garrison, and Pierre
determined to appear in the role of de-
erter The son of n Spanish mother, he
Id not hook much like Frenchman, and
spoke thc Language of the country like
native.
But there was one thing that the scout
had nUt7t Thought of. Col. Campos, then
commanding the post Of Quinquambo, had
served ont the eastern coast In the early
part Of the war. If Pierre had known
this fact he would have blown out his
brains rather than play the spy in the vi
cinity of the terrible Campos
At sunrise the Frenchman walked bold
ly into the village and gave himself up to
the first sentinel he met.
His story was plausible enough. He
had lost faith in Macmillan and his
cause, and had grown weary of hard light
ing and scanty rations. Moreover, he
had fallen in love with black eyed senior
ita, and could no longer bear arms against
Mexico.
The sentinel called corporal, and the
story was repeated To these simple sol
diers it seemed that the deserter was tell
ing the truth, and nothing but the truth:
"Ah, that French devil, Bazaine!" said
the corporal, "he is frightened, Is he not!'
"Comrade," replied Pierre, 'you have
spoken truly. Bazane is in despair. His
men are DESERVING by hundreds. They
have nothing to eat, and the usurper Is
without money to pay them"
dfr'In few weeks they will be driven
Into the sea-" said the enthusiastic cor
u poral.
"You speak like prophet" answered
the spy.
In the presence of Col. Campos the
.Frenthman measured his words Tho
Veteran listened without showing any in
terest or surprise. His brown, leathery
face never changed its expression, and his
eagle eyes were apparently fixed upon the
ground.
.,-"And you would serve the republicF' no
asked, coldly.
"Try me, was the enthusiastic re-
Spouse.
GLOW am I to know that your story is
trueS"
''Iet me swear -" began Pierre.
"Nor' shouted the colonel in voice OF
thunder
The officers and soldiers gave n start OF
surprise, and for the first time Pierre felt
uneasy.
"Bind him hand and foot!' was the I'M
expected order.
Despite his protestations two men car
ried out the colonels instructions, and
then braced the prisoner in sitting pos
ture against convenient wall.
"A year ago." said Campos, ~ cap
tured that fellow near Vera Cruz. l shot
Off the little finger on his right hand, and
me marked me here on the forehead with
his saber The villain escaped that night,
but another prisoner told me all about
him. He is not soldier. He Is spy.
He has caused more trouble than any
other man in Bazaine's army. Now,
Pierre Danton, what have you to sayF'
''The colonel is mistaken" said Pierre.
rnever saw him before, and am no
by. My name is Jean Rouville."
"Lookr' exclaimed u soldier
A glance showed that the prisoners
right little finger was missing.
''Only o coincidence, muttered Pierre.
'Guard him well,' said the colonel.
''No court martial is wanted here" and
the grim soldier walked off.
Securely pinioned as he was, Pierre saw
that he could not escape. His eyes roved
restlessly about, but there was nothing to
encourage him.
ssThe barbarians, he growled. "They
will butcher me in cold blood. l doubt
whether they will be kind enough to hang
me. Thnt Campos looks like icnd, and
the chances are that he is even now in.
venting some diabolical torture. Well, II
is the fortune Of war;"
Ouinuuambo did not look very interest
ing to the spy as he sat there propped up
against the colonel's headquarters. There
was n plaza and few scattered houses
around IL, except on one side, where they
had been destroyed by fire. There were
no citizens. The inhabitants had aban
doned the town, leaving it to the garrison.
'sThere are not more than 800 of the
yellow rascals," musec the spy. Lord
Wouldn't like to see some of our cavalry
come along They would take the place
in the twinkling of an eye"
Just then two soldiers came along, and
lifting Pierre in their arms, carried him
TO the center of the plaza. The captive al
first thought that his hour had come, but
the men proceeded in sullen silence to tic
him to the mouth of the solitary cannon
an old fashioned twelve FOUNDER, pointed
mt the vacant side of the square. They
dashed him with his breast to the muzzlt
of the gun SO securely that it was impos
sible for him to move.
Pierre thought of the brutal British
fashion of blowing Indian rebels from the
mouths of cannon and wondered whether
he WINS to be servo in the same wa-.
at Will be talked about all over Mex
II nm spTbf